Pipe tongs



Mar. 6, 1923. 1,447,920 w. L. BESSOLO PIPE TONGS Filed Dec. 12, 1921 2 sheets-sheet l mum- Hilllllllllllllillfillli .llllllllll Mar. 6, 1923. 1,447,920

w. L. BESSOLO PIPE TONGS Filed Dec. 12, 1921 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Mar. 6, 1923.

scars W'IIIILLI L. BESSOLO, F

PIPE

Application filed December To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. BESSOLO,

a citizen of the United States, residing in as are ordinarily known as casing tongs and are used in handling pipe, casing, etc., and

it is an object of the invention to provide an improved, simple, effective device of this character.

In operating ordinary casing tongs of the chain type that is, tongs having a casing engaging mechanism consisting of a plu-.

rality of pivotally connected links, it is usually necessary, in applying the tongs to av casing, to pull longitudinally on the chain to get the links approximately straight. to swing the chain out to receive the casing. to hold the chain under tension to keep the links straight, and then while the chain is held straight swing it around the casing into the closed position; andto remove the tongs from the casing it is usually necessary to hold the chain under tension at the same time it is being swung out in order to make it properly open ont. Further, the chains of ordinary chain tongs frequently become kinked so that they are difficult to straighten out.

In the tongs provided by the present invention the links of the chain are interconnected so that the chain operates ormoves uniformly throughout its length and can not under any circumstances become kinked. The curvature of the chain is always the same at all points or parts of the chain and as the chain is swun either in or out the curvature varies uniformly and simultaneously at all parts. This feature greatly simplifies operation as the chain automatically properly operates at all parts when its outer end is being swung either in or out, thus making it unnecessary for the operator to watch the operation of the chain or to keep tension on the chain to be sure that it properly conforms with the casing or is releasing from the casing, as the case may be. I

A noteworthy feature of the invention is the means provided for attaching the outer end of the chain to the operating link. The

attachment may be easily and quickly made, is secure, and allowsrelative moving ears 1,447,920 a trace.

Lone BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

TONGS.

12, 1921. Serial No. 521,671.

or working between the lever and outer end of the chain when the tongs is operated.

The various objects and features of theinvention will be best and more fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form of the invention throughout which reference is had to the accompanying drawings in Which Fig. .1. is a plan View of tongs embodying the present invention; showing it in operating position on a casing; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the -tongs shown in Fig. 1 being a View taken as indicated by line 22 on Fig. l; Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the tongs-being a view taken as indicated by line 33 on Fig. 1; -Fig. 4'is a detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional View taken as indicated by line 55 on Fig. 1 and Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the relative positioning of the parts as they are being arranged on or detached from a caslng.

In accordance with the present invention the tongs comprises, generally, a lever 10, a suspension member 11 in connection with the lever 10. and a casing engaging mechanism 12 carried and operated by the lever 10. The lever 10 is preferably a solid member having a handle part 13 with an eye shaped to form a convenient hand grip, and

with bent or looped end'portions 16 above and below the lever 10 and having their outer ends attached to the upper and lower sides of the lever 10 by a suitable bolt 17. A chain 18 has one end attached to the member 11 by a ring 18 freely carried on. the suspension member 11. The other or outer end of the chain 18 carries a ring 18*. A brace chain 18 extends from the ring 18 to a bracket 18 at the outer end of the handle 13. The bracket 18 is similar to the suspension member 11. The curved end parts 16 of the suspension'member 11 are located transversely of the handle and are far enough above and below the lever 10, and the entire suspension member 11 is located on the lever 10, so that thetongs will hang in operative position when the ring 18 is at either of the end parts 16. It will be obvious, of course, how the tongs can be readily turned over by manipulating it so that the ring 18 passes from one end part 16 to the other over or along the center part. In practice the suspension member 11 makes the tongs very easy to handle as it can be very easily and quickly turned to wrench a pipe or casing to the left or to the right and hangs in operating position when turned either Way.

The casing engaging mechanism 12 comprises, generally, a chain part embodying a plurality of blocks 20 and side parts 21 connected by pintle pins 22, plates 23, whlch connect the inner end of the chain to the end part 15 of the lever 10, and a jaw 24 which is carried at the outer end of the chain and which serves to connect the outer end of the chain and handle and to cooperate with the handle when the tongs is operated. In the particular form of the invention set forth in the drawings there are two plates 23, one arranged at each side of the end part 15. The inner parts 26 of the plates 23, that is the parts at the end parts 15 of the lever 10, are pivotally connected to the end part 15 by a pivot pin 27. The outer parts 28 of the plates 23 extend.somewhat beyond the end part 15 to the lever 10 and have curved edge parts 29 adapted to conform with the curvature of the casing C on which the tongs is to operate. The inner end of the chain is connected to the plates 23 by a connecting member 30 having a cross part 31- which fits between the outer ends of the plates 23 and is connected to the plates 23 by a pin 32 and a projection or center part 34 which extends from the cross parts 31 between the side parts 21 at the innermost end of the chain. The side parts 21 are connected to the center part 34 by a pivot pin 35.

The chain part. as before stated. is formed by' a plurality of blocks 20 and side parts 21 connected by pintles 22. The blocks 20 are arranged end to end and the side parts 21 are arranged at the sides of the blocks so that they connect adjacent. blocks. The pintle pins 22 extend through the side parts and blocks topivotally connect them. In accordance with the present invention the ends of the blocks 20 are formed with gear teeth 38 and the blocks are proportioned so that the teeth at adjacent ends of adjacent blocks mesh as illustrated in the drawings.

' The pitch lines of the teeth 38 are concention either adjacent blocks or adjacent side parts are formed with shoulders 41 which will abut to limit the outward swinging movement of the chain parts. In the particular form of construction illustrated in the drawings the shoulders 41 are formed at adjacent ends of the adjacent side parts 21.

The jaw 24 at the outer end of the chain is formed with an opening or recess 50 which receives the outer end of the outermost block 20 of the chain. A pivot pin 51, pivotally connects the outer end of the outermost block and the jaw 24. The jaw 24 is adapted to extend between the plates 23 and between the casing C and end part 15 of the lever 10, when the tones is in operating position on the. casing. The inner part or edge of the jaw is curved or shaped to conform with the outer surface of the casing C and preferably carries inserts which engage and bite into the casing when the tongs is operated. A handle 56 extends from the jaw 24 so that the operator can conveniently grip it when applying or removing the tongs.

In accordance with the present invention a series of gear teeth 57 are formed at the outer partor edge of the jaw 24 and a serie of gear teeth 53 are formed at the outer end of the end part 15 of lever 10. The pitch line on which the teeth 57 are formed is evenly curved and is substantially concentric with the casing when the tongs is 111 operating position. The teeth 58 at the end of the end part 15 are preferably not formed on i. pitch line concentric with the pivot bolt 57 but are formed so that the teeth at the end of the series toward the inner or fixed end of the chain are comoarativelv close to the pivot bolt 27 while those at the end of the series toward the outer or free end of the chain are. spaced considerable distance from the pivot bolt 27. With this arrangement there is sufficient space between the end part 35 of the lever 10 and the casing to freely receive the jaw 24 when the lever 10 is in the position shown in Fig. 6 and there is only sufficient space between the end part of the lever 15 and-casing C to carry or hold the jaw 24 when the lever 10 is in a position such as is shown in Fig. 1. When the lever is positioned as shown in Fig. 6 so that there is a comparatively large or wide space between the end part 15 and casing C the jaw 24 can be freely swung or moved in or out between the plates 23 and the end part and casing C. However,

when the jaw 24 is in place between the end part 15 and the casing C and the lever 10 is row B in Fig. 1. In the preferred form of the invention the parts are designed and proportioned so that the jaw 24 is forced somewhat toward the casing C at the same time that it is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow A so that the inserts 55 will grip the casing C, but not so that the casing will be crushed.

In accordance with the present invention means is provided for limiting the swinglng movement of the plates 23 relative to the end part 15 of the lever at all times, for instance when the tongs are not in connection with the casing C, and releasable means is provided for limiting the movement between the ope'rating parts when the tongs are in operating position so that the casing engaging mechanism can be released from the casing enough so that the tongs can be turned in the casing but not enough to alloW the jaw 24 to become displaced from between the end parts 15 of the lever 10 of the casing G. In the particular form of the invention herein set forth I have shown two independent means for limiting the movement of the parts in the manne'rs just described. To limit the movement of the casing engaging mechanism under any circumstances a bolt extends through slots 71 in the plates 23 and through a bore in the end part 15. The slots 71 are concentric with the pivot bolt 27 and are sufficiently long only to allow relative movement between the lever and plates enough so that the jaw can be freely placed inand removed from between the end part 15 and casing C and so that the tongs can be fully operated. To limit the movement of the parts when the tongs is in place on a casing I provide a pin 74 removably arranged through slots 72 in the plates 33 and an opening or bore in the end part 15. The slots 72 are concentric with the pivot boltand the slots and bore are arranged so thatthey register to receive the pin when the parts are in operative position. The pin 74 may be attached to the lever by a chain 90 and preferably fits more or less freely in the slots and bore so that it can be arranged in place and removed by hand. The slots 72 a're, of course, only long enough to allow releasement of the parts enough so that the tongs can be turned on the casing and so that the tongs-can be fully operated. It will be obvious, of course, that,

the last mentioned construction may be applied to other working or relatively moving parts of the device without departing from the spirit of the invention. Further, it will be obvious that-in either of the means just. described the slots might be' provided in the end part 15 and bores 1n the side parts with-, out departing from the spirit of the invention. The provision of means for limiting the movement of the parts when the tongs is not in operation makes the tongs particularly convenient for use as'they are always in condition to be applied to a casing with very little manipulation, and the provision of means for limiting the movement of the parts when the tongs is in operative posi-' tion makes it impossible for the tongs to be come released or detached from thecasing to cause injury or damage such as often occurs when using ordinary tongs.

To further make it impossible, for the tongs to become released from the casing when in operation the present invention provides a connection between the outer end part of the chain-and the lever 10 in addition to the connection above described. In the preferred form of the invention this connection is made by a chain 80 the inner end of which is fixedvto a block 81 attached to the handle 10 and the outer end of which is adapted to be releasably held by a forked or yoked hook 86 extending from the outer end part of the chain. The hook 86 is adapted to releasably hold they end of the chain 80 when the tongs are in operating position as clearly illustrated in Fi s. 1

and 2 of the drawings. In practice either one or, both of the means herein above set forth for positively preventing displacement of the tongs from the casing when in operation may be employed.

From the foregoing description of the construction of the tongs and from the operation of the various parts of the tongs it is believed that the general operation of the tongs will be clearly and fully understood. The tongs may be handled in much the same manner as ordinary tongs, except.v of course. that it may be very easily and quickly turned over, and can be much more easily and quickly applied to and removed from a casing than most ordinary tongs. To apply the tongs to a casing it is first turned so that it will operate to turn the casing in the desired direction. The operator then opens out the casing engaging mechanism, that is the plates 23, chain, and

jaw 24 about as far as the various limiting move the jaw to its proper position, the chain, due to the interconnection of its links takes care of itself, that is it automatically operates or bends at all parts to conform with the casing, and the free pivotal connection of the inner end of the chain to the plate and the free pivotal connection of the jaw to the outer end of the chain allow turning or positioning of the jaw so that it passes properly into the space between the end part 15 and casing C. When the jaw 52% is in place, the chain, due to the interconnection of its parts, is necessarily in proper engagement'with the casing at all parts. When the jaw 24, and therefore the chain, is in place the handle 13 of the lever 10 is swung in the direction indicated by the arrow B in Fig. 1 until the teeth 57 and 58 are in engagement to hold the jaw in place. The pin 74 is then arranged in place in the slots 72' in the plates and the bore in the end part, and the outer end of the chain 80 is placed in the hook 86. The tongs is then secured or locked in operative position on the casing and canbe thrown into operation by further swinging of the handle 13 of the lever 10 in the direction indicated by the arrow B. Such movement of the lever causes movement of the jaw 24 in the direction indicated by the arrow A in Fig. 1 and causes movement of the jaw towards the casing so that the inserts 55 grip the casing. It will be obvious, of course, how movements of the jaw 24 in the direction indicated by the arrow A will tighten the entire casing engaging mechanism onto the casing to cause the casing engaging mechanism to grip the'casing so that the casing is turned. To'rotate the tongs freely on the casing the handle 13 is swung in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow B until the casing engaging mechanism is loose of the casing. The pin 7 4 and chain 80 prevent the casing engaging mechanism from becoming disengaged from the casing when the handle is manipulated as just described. .To remove the tongs from ethe easing the pin 74 is removed and the outer end of the chain is released from the hook, whereupon the handle can be swung until the jaw can be removed from between the end part 15 and easing C. During most of this movement of the handle the teeth 57 and 58 are in mesh and therefore cause fit around a casing, and gearing between. f

adjacent members to transmit relative rotary movement between the members.

3. A. tongs including, a lever, and a casing engaging mechanism in connection with the lever, the mechanism including a series of pivotally connected members adapted to fit around a casing, and intermeshing gear teeth on adjacent ends of adjacent members to transmit relative rotary movement between the members.

4. A tongs including, a lever, and a casing engaging mechanism carried and operated by the lever. the mechanism comprising a plurality of blocks arranged end to end, a plurality of side parts pivotally connected to the blocks to connect them, intermeshing gear teeth at adjacent ends of adjacent blocks, and intermeshinggear teeth at adjacent ends of adjacent side parts so that adjacent ends of adjacent side parts are geared together.

5. A tongs including, a lever, and a casing engaging mechanism carried and operated by the lever, the mechanism including a series of pivotally connected members, intermeshing parts on adjacent ends of. ad-' jacent members, a plate pivotally connecting one end of the series of members with the lever, and a jaw carried by the other end of the series of members and adapted to releasably connect with the 'lever at a point removed from the connection between the plate and the lever.

6. A tongs including, a lever, and a casing engaging mechanism carried and operated by the lever. the mechanism including a series of pivotally connected members having its ends attached to the lever, intermesh-' ing parts at adjacent ends of adjacent members to transmit relative rotary movement between the members, and means for limiting the relative rotary movement between the members.

7. Casing tongs including, a lever, gear teeth at the. inner end of the lever, and a casing engaging mechanism including, a series of pivotally connected members having one end connected to the lever, a jaw at the outer end of the series of members adapted to extend between the inner end of the lever and the casing, gear teeth on said jaw to cooperate with the first mentioned gear teeth whenthe j aw is between the lever and casing, and means for limiting the relative movements of the parts so that the jaw can not become displaced from between the end of the lever and easing.

8. Casing tongs including, a lever, gear teeth at the inner end of the lever, and a casing engaging mechanism including, a series of pivotally connected members having one end connected to the lever, a jaw at the outer end of the series of members adapted to extend between the inner end of the lever and the casing, gear teeth on said jaw to cooperate with the first mentioned gear teeth when the jaw is between the lever and casing, and means for releasably holding the jaw against displacement from between the end of the lever and the casing.

9. Casing tongs including, a lever, two plates pivotally connected to opposite sides of the inner end of the lever, means for limiting the pivotal movement of the plates relative to the lever, a chain having one end pivotally carried between the plates, gear teeth at the inner end of the lever formed on a line eccentric with the pivotal connection of the plates and lever, a jaw pivotally connected to the other end of the chain and adapted to extend between the casing and inner end of the lever, releasable means for holding the jaw in place between the casing and inner end of the lever, and gear teeth on the jaw adapted to cooperate with the first mentioned gear teeth.

10. Casing tongs including, a lever, two plates pivotally connected to opposite sides of the inner end of the lever, means for limiting the pivotal movement of the plates relative to the lever, a chain including a plurality of pivotally connected members and having one end pivotally carried between the plates, intermeshing gear teeth on adjacent ends of adjacent members, gear teeth at the inner end of the lever formed on a line eccentric with the pivotal connection of the plates and lever, a jaw pivotally connected to the other end of the chain and adapted to extend between the casing and inner end of the lever, releasable means for holding the jaw in place between the casing and inner end of the lever, and gear teeth on the jaw adapted to cooperate with the first mentioned gear teeth.

11. Casing tongs including a lever, a series of pivotally connected members having one end pivotally connected to the inner end of the lever, intermeshing parts on adjacent ends of adjacent members to transmit relative rotary movement between the members, gear teeth at the inner end of the lever formed on a line eccentric with the pivotal connection of the series to the lever, and

gear teeth at the other end of the series of parts adapted to cooperate with the gear teeth at the inner end of the lever.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this first day of December 1921.

WALTER J. DESMOND, M. L. BESSOLO. 

